California doesn’t have legislation prohibiting officers from chasing motorcyclists, but state laws do guide how the decision to chase should be made. California stresses that the decision should hinge largely on public safety. The nature of the crime the rider is accused of should also be taken into account.

City Police Departments and the Highway Patrol are also expected to create their own guidelines about when they should chase suspects on motorcycles.

What Goes into the Decision to Chase a Motorcycle in California?

The State provides online guidance for motorcycle chases, or the decision not to pursue, known as Peace Officer Standards and Training (POST). Their online resource “California Law Enforcement Vehicle Pursuit Guidelines” goes over some of the factors that should be a part of any decision to chase a rider.

The guideline teaches the “Balance Test” on page 9. It states:

“If the threat to public or officer safety is greater than the need for immediately apprehending the suspect, then the pursuit should not be initiated or it should be terminated.”

On Page 10, the document lists dozens of different concerns to weigh each time a chase is under consideration.

These are just some of the things that all officers and their supervisors are supposed to think about:

• The Risk to Public Safety
• The traffic levels at the time, including pedestrian volume
• The nature of the offense of the suspect
• How many officers should be a part of the chase
• The location of the chase (i.e., school zones, neighborhoods, work zones)
• The weather, lighting, and any environmental conditions must factor into the decision

Another source of guidance is California Vehicle Code CVC 17004.7. It also mentions the level of force and the appropriate techniques that should be authorized:

“(6) Determine authorized pursuit intervention tactics. Pursuit intervention tactics include, but are not limited to, blocking, ramming, boxing, and roadblock procedures. The policy shall specify under what circumstances and conditions each approved tactic is authorized to be used.”

State officials also stress that these and other factors should be evaluated constantly throughout a chase, not just at the start. If the balance swings towards a greater threat to the public, the chase should be canceled at any point it’s appropriate.

Help Getting Support If You Are Struck By Someone Fleeing Police

Other Methods Used in Place of Motorcycle Chases

The difficulty of keeping up with a motorcycle often ends traditional chases before they start. Especially on a busy freeway or in the corridors of a major city.

Officers in police cars can’t go everywhere a motorcycle can go. They can’t maneuver as the smaller bike can, and patrol cars will also accelerate much more slowly. The very effort to stay in sight of a fleeing motorcyclist puts the officer in danger and every other vehicle, pedestrian, and bicyclist on the road.

Officers with the LAPD or the California Highway Patrol often look for alternate ways to track down offenders on motorcycles. They can consider using air support, like a traffic helicopter. The LAPD relies on its Air Support Division to shadow motorcycle suspects.

Officers can also work to pin suspects by coordinating with other officers to form roadblocks. Officers might also work to identify suspects and just apprehend them later at their homes.

Contact a California Car Accident Attorney After Being Struck by a Fleeing Suspect

Parts of California are famous for their police chases; they may be entertainment on TV, but they are deadly hazards on actual freeways and boulevards. Victims struck by a fleeing motorcyclist or a police car can seek accident compensation.

The suspect, the law enforcement agency, and/or city government may have to help the victim with car repair costs, medical bills for injuries, and other damages.

To find out what your injury is worth and how to figure out who to hold responsible, contact a skilled California Car Accident Lawyer at Maison Law. Our free case reviews come with no obligation, and there’s no upfront charge if you need our help to earn more. We don’t charge anything unless we win your case for you. Then our fee comes out of the settlement we secure for you.